Hungry for More Reforming U.S. International Food Aid Policy May 2008 Kate Kingery Rana Merza Simon Meyer Obinnaya Oji Jennifer Thill

Introduction According to the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), an estimated 852 million people—1 in 8 people in the world—do not get enough to eat. - Barrett & Maxwell, 2005

Introduction “A ‘silent tsunami’ of hunger is sweeping the world's most desperate nations.” Josette Sheeran, World Food Program

Introduction “The Bush administration and Congress have been caught flat-footed by rapidly escalating global food prices and are scrambling to respond to a crisis that they increasingly view as a threat to U.S. national security, according to government officials, congressional staffers and human rights experts.” - Washington Post, April 26, 2008

The overall vision for change is to have a coordinated and efficient international system of food aid distribution that effectively meets the needs identified by recipients.

Current Policies – Current Inefficiencies Origin: P.L Now “Food for peace” Tied/Surplus system System comprises Producers, Shippers and Implementers. Ostensibly Commodity based – No Cash

Current Policies – Current Inefficiencies

Framing the issue

View # 1: Protecting U.S. interests with a donor driven response. Framing the issue

View #2: Program structure is not beneficial for recipients Framing the issue

Stakeholders Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities)

Stakeholders Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities) Facilitators (USAID, USDA, WFP)

Stakeholders Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities) Facilitators (USAID, USDA, WFP) Policy Makers (Congress)

WFP NGOs Receiving Governments U.S. DOT Donor Farmers U.S. Taxpayers Media Congress USAID USDA Agribusinesses In Country Recipients WTO Interest + Power + Stakeholders

Producers Shippers Implementers Stakeholders

Recommendations 1. Incrementally shift P.L. 480 Title II allocations from humanitarian assistance to agricultural development. 2. Create a pilot project to determine feasibility of shifting U.S. food aid assistance from commodity donations to cash donations 3. Pending outcome of the pilot project, shift all U.S. food aid contributions from commodity donations to cash donations to be coordinated by USAID. 4. Sponsor a global summit for the purpose of recasting the strategy and role of international food aid, and to create a new global compact on food aid.

Implementation Strategy Build a domestic constituency to raise awareness of food aid Develop a Political Strategy for food aid reform Coordinate an International Food aid summit

What success will look like Increase in efficiency will translate into effectiveness gains. Longer term strategy should reduce need for emergency aid Faster developing potential markets Food security will positively impact national security. Nett reduction of hunger

Help hunger become a memory Go to reformfoodaidnow.org to support PFAR